On the recordMarch 3, 2015
I think this is a very, very sad day when we have to make a Hobson's choice of either funding our national security or standing for the Constitution. We actually took an oath just a few short weeks ago to defend this Constitution from all enemies, foreign and domestic. That is our role; that is our responsibility. If not now, then when? It is never going to be easy. It is never going to be easy. It has never been easy to stand up for freedom. I have heard some people say: Well, you Republicans, you just need to learn how to govern. If it was just about governing, then I think that the American people can just close shop and let the President just run everything, but we actually have a Constitution that we have to adhere to. {time} 1415 Despots all over the world, they govern. They keep the trains running on time. But we stand for something different. We stand for a constitutional republic, where we have three coequal branches that all have an equal say. The Founding Fathers gave us a tool to deal with a time just like this. It is called the power of the purse. If we relegate that responsibility and dropkick it to the courts, as the gentleman from Florida (Mr. DeSantis) just said, then they have nothing else than to assume that we just basically folded to the pressure. I believe this is a sad day for America. I believe America deserves better. If we are not going to fight now, when are we going to fight?
